I got a green card! Now what?
“Welcome to the United States of America”
These are the words printed on the pamphlet included with the green card that serves as official proof of my permanent residence status. These words evoke a strange contradiction of the other time I tend to see these words: at the airport, after I land, right before the customs & immigration check.
There’s something strangely ironic about how the first people on US soil we meet ‘welcome’ us with stone-cold, emotionless expressions and probing personal questions, dissecting every answer and following up like a trial lawyer.
It’s funny seeing these words on that pamphlet welcoming me to the country I’ve already been living in for 8 years. I suppose it hasn’t been a particularly welcoming experience.
During my time as a student at university and a few years afterwards I was on an F1 visa. The logical next step is to transition to a work visa or an H1B, which an employer is supposed to sponsor. If you’re lucky enough to have an employer willing to go through the arduous process of sponsoring your work visa, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will actually successfully get a work visa. In fact, I applied 3 times, once every year for 3 years and I got denied every time. The result of this is that I’ve learned to live with a certain level of uncertainty and anxiety that comes with being an immigrant whose stay in the country is understood to be strictly temporary. The laws and documentation required to prove legal residency is complicated and convoluted. Miss something and that could mean serious repercussions.
Leave the country and forgot that one document? You could be barred entry by our border patrol friends at the airport.
Forgot to update a certain document with your employer? Sorry, you can’t legally work until you get that sorted out.
Oh you graduated from university! Thanks for all the cash. You can stay for 1 year (or 3 if you’re working in a STEM related field) but after that get out.
Despite this, my journey has been relatively short and smooth. Due to my background, it was possible for me skip the work visa and apply directly for a green card. This is after jumping through some hoops, of course, including getting promoted and lots of paperwork. I am well aware that my situation was much more comfortable than it could have been.
“Welcome to the United States of America”
It feels a little tone deaf given that there are so many who are much more deserving and willing to be a part of this country and yet may never hear these words due to their circumstances.
As an immigrant myself, it’s weird hearing others tell undocumented immigrants to “immigrate the right way” when they likely understand nothing about the process.
I studied and wanted to work here. That’s pretty much the extent of my connection to this country. I didn’t grow up here. I don’t have any family here. Its this stark comparison that I realize the only reason why I am able to get a green card is because I had the means to study here and was lucky enough to land a job at a company willing to sponsor my application.
Legal immigration isn’t easy. Its a long, expensive and arduous process that requires a lot of form filling and paperwork, support from your employer and back and forth with lawyers, keeping in mind that, again, nothing is ever guaranteed. Add to the mix a pandemic and random immigration executive orders coming from some orange guy and you’re well on your way to a mental ward.
I mean, you don’t have to take it from me. John Oliver did a segment on exactly this topic and shared his own personal anecdote at the end that parallels my experience pretty closely.
“Welcome to the United States of America”
I am filled with emotion as I read the letter telling me that my application is approved: the green card is sent and arriving soon. I’m happy and excited. But I also feel a little confused. I’ve worked so hard and given up so much in order to get this piece of paper. Was it worth it? I forget the question almost immediately after I ask it. I let out a long sigh. Most of all, I feel relieved.
I wait for the green card to arrive in the mail. A few weeks pass and I have some time to digest the fact that I am no longer an immigrant. That question comes up and nags at me like dessert after dinner. Was it worth it? At this point, I’ve gotten a real good look at this country: the good, bad and the ugly, it’s history and it’s possible future trajectory. Early on I decided that I wanted nothing to do with this place. I was going to finish my studies, graduate and I’ll reevaluate from there. Reevaluate I did. I evaluated the allure of a stable life and a promising career. And I evaluated the dollar bills that came with it. And I continue evaluating those dollar bills in my bank account. Man I love evaluating those Benjamins…
But comfortable living is just icing on a cake. That alone wasn’t what kept me here. It’s the world leading corporations that provide a fertile environment of learning for young professionals like myself where I feel like I’ve gotten the most value. When I graduated from college, I thought of moving back to my home country of the Netherlands for work. My brother advised against it: “The world here is small. You won’t learn as much and you won’t be challenged.”
So I stayed and somehow landed myself a job at a big tech company. I vowed to return home eventually, but only after I’ve accumulated enough experience so that I am not limited by my environment and instead use the skills I gathered to expand the world a little bit back home. For now, I’ve given myself a timeline of 5 years of work experience. Its 3 down, 2 more to go.
“Welcome to the United States of America”
I don’t think I realized how my immigrant status has shaped my identity now that I’ve officially become a permanent resident. I’ve never felt American. I feel like I view domestic issues from a foreigner’s perspective. I tend to get along better with other immigrants or ‘internationals,’ as we call ourselves. I hate soda. But I love burgers. Oh I like beer too. Maybe I got some American in me, after all.
But one of the biggest things about American living I have to mention is the people. I’ve certainly made my share of friends here that I will carry on and treasure for life. However, there always tends to be a lack of shared understanding that while I sound, act and may even look (Asian) American, I am, in fact, not American. And this is a gap I feel like I have never been able to bridge, even with some of my closest friends here.
The truth is that many Americans have no idea how to interact with non-Americans. Unfortunately, American culture is not very friendly to non-Western culture. There’s an expectation for non-Americans to integrate and act “American.” This expectation isn’t particularly unique to the US nor should it be discouraged. A certain level of integration into society is required for newly settled people to be set up for success. But there is a lack of celebration of different cultures and single-mindedness that exists in American society that can make the immigration journey into America more difficult than say, Canada. I’m talking about Asian kids being made fun of for bringing their smelly lunches to school. Or speaking loudly and slowly to people with a thick accent. Or mistaking Sikhs for Muslims. Or referring to Africa as a country. Or having trouble with 24 hour time. The list goes on.
I’ve learned to live with it. And I’m lucky that the impact of this ignorance affects only my social life, and very subtly at that. It’s far from a perfect country, but it’s a country that’s finally accepted me as an official resident here. And I should be grateful for that.
“Welcome to the United States of America”
Thanks! I‘m looking forward to that warm welcome from my border patrol friends.
